[sandbox]

[bringspeopletogether]

Skyhold gets quieter and quieter as the days move on. It's not a complete stand-down; there's cleanup to do, stragglers to round up, the same sort of business Alistair remembers from the months after the Blight. The Thaw, as Wardens call it. Thedas is thawing again, but the fortress only grows colder for it.

He won't lie: he'd feel warmer if Kieran and Morrigan were still there.

When Cullen suggests a vacation, Alistair lights up, only to deflate slightly when he realizes they'll be "vacationing" in Orlais. There's business to attend in Val Royeaux -- not the sort of business that'll keep Cullen occupied from sunup to sundown, but enough to require an in-person visit for a week or so. On the one hand: Orlais. On the other: he can't argue that time away from Skyhold, especially in Cullen's company, will help.

...So will the cheese, probably.

(Look, as Alistair has said many a time, he is a very predictable man.)

They room at a small place in the university quarter that's downright plain for Val Royeaux. Libraries for Cullen, a cafe around the corner for both of them, limited contact with people trilling about whatever stupid, petty scandal's hit the court this week -- it could be far worse. Alistair takes to writing his letters at the cafe, usually accompanied by some flaky pastry or another.

Today, they're cheese-filled. It's hard to descend too far into a personal funk when you've got a cheese-filled pastry.

Comments

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen pats Alistair's shoulder wordlessly, and then attempts to smother himself with a pillow.

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair cracks up.

"Oh, no," he manages. "The Commander's ventured too far into the Blanket Caverns and been attacked by the Pillow Beast. There's only one way to guide him to safety!"

He shakes the bag of almonds right next to Cullen's head.

[howtoactfereldan]

Muffled: "What if the Pillow Beast and I are friends?"

[bringspeopletogether]

"Then the Pillow Beast can come along as well, I suppose," says Alistair. "It's allowed one almond. But only one."

[howtoactfereldan]

The pillow comes up a fraction.

"And if I'm its designated proxy? Does that mean I get two?"

[bringspeopletogether]

Practical: "That seems only fair to me."

The bag gets another jostle.

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen very slowly slides the pillow down, hugging it to his chest.

Dignified:

"We've achieved an accord, Theirin."

[bringspeopletogether]

He grins. "Wonderful."

And plucks two more almonds from the bag to feed Cullen.

[howtoactfereldan]

Crunch. Crunch.

"All right -- assuming cheese is ongoing, and you'd like another surprise or two from me before we return to Skyhold... anything else you want to do in the next few days? Things we ought to get?"

[bringspeopletogether]

"Hm."

Propping himself on one elbow, Alistair fishes out some almonds to chew on as he thinks.

"Finding something for Kieran might not be a bad idea. I owe Mia a letter, so if you've any interest in picking out something for her or the children, we could do that as well."

(That last bit is a little hesitant.)

"And much as I'd like to climb the highest structure in town and fling overcooked porridge down on the most absurdly-clothed passerby we find, we should probably save that for another time."

[howtoactfereldan]

"...I'd appreciate it, yes," Cullen says, a little distracted. "I ought to pick out something. I'll -- have to think about it."

It is now a problem that he's going to worry at for the next several days. The way his brow furrows may give this away.

[bringspeopletogether]

Well, damn. Alistair was afraid of that.

He leans in; kisses Cullen's brow as if he could smooth the creases away; lingers there. Softly: "I'm happy to help. We can look together."

[howtoactfereldan]

"I can't write them. At least let me do this much." Approaching unhappy. "We've still got some daylight -- are you in for the evening, or would you rather go out?"

(Alistair has been a good enough influence that Cullen realizes that he'd probably feel better about this if he ate something.)

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair nods.

With a slight smile, he says, "l think the almonds lured me from the caverns for good. I can venture out again."

[howtoactfereldan]

Cullen's mouth twitches.

"In the future, should you see one dangling before you on a hook, realize it's me, with a fishing pole."

[bringspeopletogether]

"...and where exactly would you be luring me to?"

He's starting to grin.

[howtoactfereldan]

"Dinner with nobles that I can't evade?"

[bringspeopletogether]

"And just as the first dishes arrive," says Alistair, laughing, "I'll burst through the door, chasing the almond, and make a diving leap for it right across the table?"

[howtoactfereldan]

"I was thinking more that you would accompany me."

A crooked smile.

"Misery loves company, and all that."

[bringspeopletogether]

Alistair's smile softens. He covers one of Cullen's hands, lacing their fingers together.

"And this company would also come with sliding terrible nug sketches your way when no one's looking," he says.

[howtoactfereldan]

"It wouldn't be the first time nugs caused a diplomatic incident." His thumb strokes the side of Alistair's hand. "Either that or you'd become a celebrated artist."

[bringspeopletogether]

"I like to think my sketches are improving." Cheerful. "The nugs have legs that aren't sticks anymore. There might even be shading."

[howtoactfereldan]

"Ah, yes, so you'd absolutely become a celebrated portraitist and be hauled off to every noble estate in Orlais."

[bringspeopletogether]

As solemn as he can, Alistair says:

"It's true. No estate's complete without a portrait of the entire family as nugs. Right in the front hall if at all possible."

[howtoactfereldan]

"They'd feed you so much you'd actually turn into a wheel of cheese."